Sknowed Blog | Snow Forecasts, Ski Maps & Resort Updates

Japan Plugs, Voltage and Frequencies
Ensure you have the right plug type, understand the differences in voltage and frequencies before arriving in Japan. Japan voltage is 100 volts Alternating Current (A.C.). North America typically uses 120v and Central Europe uses 230v. Incredibly though the country operates on two distinct frequencies—50 Hertz in the east and 60 Hertz in the west (you may recall it was incredibly difficult for Japan to supply power from western Japan to eastern Japan after the Mar 11, 2011 earthquake). To the right, you can see a typical Japanese plug type. It is quite rare to have an earth prong...
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Japan Snow Forecast & Current Conditions
Japan’s enchanting winter landscapes and world-class ski resorts draw snow enthusiasts from around the globe. Whether you’re a seasoned skier or a novice snowboarder, staying updated on the latest snow conditions is crucial for planning the perfect winter adventure. In this article, we’ll explore the best sources for obtaining accurate and timely snow information for Japanese ski resorts. Discover where to find a reliable Japan snow forecast! Official Resort Websites Provide Snow Forecasts & Current Conditions: The first source for snow information is the official website of the ski resort you plan to visit. Many websites provide real-time updates on...
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Avalanche Skills Training in Japan (AST-1 and AST-2)
In Japan, winter enthusiasts can enjoy picturesque landscapes and world-class skiing. However, the beauty of snow-covered mountains also brings the inherent risk of avalanches. Understanding and prioritizing avalanche safety becomes paramount as winter sports enthusiasts flock to the Japanese Alps and other snow-laden regions. Avalanche safety is essential for everyone, from beginners to experts. Even when skiing within resort boundaries, knowing the basics could save lives. Avalanche Skills Training (AST) is a program tailored to educate individuals on identifying avalanche terrain, comprehending snowpack stability, and executing avalanche rescue techniques. The program primarily caters to skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, and other outdoor...
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Hot Wax and Maintenance at Wax Hakuba
waxHakuba If you plan on visiting Hakuba Valley you’ll be happy to know you can get your skis or snowboard hot waxed by Wax Hakuba. Hirotsugu Yamada, a former JSBA certified professional snowboarder, runs Wax Hkauba. He even picks up and delivers your skis or snowboard back on the same day, depending on the time it was picked up. That’s right, they pick up the customer’s snowboards or skis from their location, perform the necessary hot was and maintenance at their workshop, and then deliver them back to the customer. The pick-up hours are from 1100 hrs to 2100 hrs. The delivery...
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Good Tips on How to Learn to Ski
Good Tips on How to Learn to Ski as a Beginner Learning to ski as a beginner can be a fun, if done right. Get started with these steps: Take a Lesson The best way to begin skiing is to take a lesson from a certified ski instructor at a ski resort. They will teach you the basics, including how to put on your equipment, balance, and the fundamental skiing techniques. Group lessons are a cost-effective option, but private lessons provide more personalized attention. Be sure to inquire as to what languages are spoken by the instructor. You will find in larger resorts,...
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Aerialways – How to Update OpenStreetMaps.org
There are a lot of features to map on every ski mountain. Some of the main features include aerialways (eg chairlifts, gondolas, etc), pistes (ski course or run) and the actual area of a ski resort. Commonly, pistes are lines or ways. Ski areas are normally mapped as polygons. Chairlifts are normally mapped as lines but also contain point data, the pylons. This video will introduce to you how to map chairlifts and pylons. There are many projects using this data. Of course, freshsnow.jp uses this data but also Microsoft Fly Simulator expansion packs also use this data (see this...
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For Ski Season, 2023/2024, Are we to expect the unexpected?
As the curtains rise on another thrilling ski season in the Land of the Rising Sun, there’s a new character lurking in the wings, ready to add its own twist to the winter drama – El Niño. Yes, the infamous climate phenomenon has decided to grace Japan with its presence this time around, and it’s looking like the ski resorts are in for quite the rollercoaster ride. For the uninitiated, El Niño is like the unpredictable relative who shows up at your family gathering, throwing everything into delightful chaos. In this case, it’s not bringing gifts; instead, it’s packing a bag...
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Sapporo Ski Resorts on a Budget for Beginners
If you are a beginner and on a budget, there are an astounding 8 ski mountains to choose from about 1 hour of downtown Sapporo. Staying off the ski mountain will certainly bring down your accomodation price. Also, in early February of each year, Sapporo has their famous snow festival. Ski during the day and drink, eat and be entertained at the Sapporo Snow Festival at night (btw, in 2024, the snow festival is planned for Feb 4 to Feb 11 and that is also a great time to ski in the middle of winter with excellent...
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Japan Ski Resorts Map
Search Japan Ski Resorts by… You can search and sort mountains by: Name (English and Japanese) Number and length of lifts Number and length of trails (pistes) Max and minimum elevation Total vertical Number and length of each course by difficultly Total of 42 data fields for each mountain and much more… Search Map of Japan Ski Resorts Now! Japan Ski Resort Information – fast! You can: Click the helicopter icon to fly there! List 10, 20 or 50 resorts at a time Sort by various attributes like altitude, run length, etc. Search by free text in the top right for a specific resort The list will automatically filter as you zoom in and out of the...
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